I breathe out a heavy sigh. “Please, Jace. It’s my first day.”
“You’re a real fuckin’ piece of work, you know that? You come in here bitchin’ at me, then expect me to do you a favor for free?”
My lips press in a thin line. “What do you want?”
He presses his palms against the wall on either side of my head, caging me in with his arms. Goose bumps dapple my defiant skin. The smell of sweat and smoke swirls with theseductive scent that belongs to only him. I hate the effect it has on me. “I’m sure we can think of somethin’.”
Lust pools in my belly, but a layer of anger mixes in. I swat him away and duck beneath his bicep. “You’re disgusting. I’m not gonna fuck you for a ride.”
An aggravating rumble of obnoxious laughter echoes in his throat. “Please. Like I’d put my dick in that block of ice between them skinny legs. I’d get more heat from an air conditioner.” My jaw drops. He falls back against the opposite wall, crossing his arms over his broad chest. “You gotta clean my room.”
My brows pull together. “You want me to clean your room?”
“Yep. Laundry, too.”
I offer him a sidelong glare. This feels much too easy. There must be a catch. “A clean room and laundry. That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
“And you’ll drop me offandpick me up?”
“Pickin’ you up wasn’t part of the deal.”
I mirror his stance. “You want me to do two things.”
His lips twist, his hard gaze locking on mine. “Fine.” He pushes off the wall and makes a start for his room but chucks a quick look behind his back. “If you see any suspicious stains on my sheets, they’re what you think they are. And they ain’t all from the same woman.”
I scrunch my face in disgust. My main goal is to stay away from him, but for some reason, I keep finding myself at his beck and call. Haven’t I been dealt a shitty enough hand already?
Elbowing past him, I step onto the porch and pull in a lungful of air. It dribbles out slowly as I give myself a much-needed pep talk. Today will be a great day. I look and feel good, so I’m not going to let Jace bring me down.
We ride to town in silence, the radio filling in the gaps between us. He pulls into the lot and stops right in front of the store. “Come down to Mad Dog’s when you’re done.”
“You can’t just come get me?”
He turns his head, his expression stern. “I ain’t runnin’ an Uber.”
I roll my eyes. “Fine. Thanks for the ride.”
He speeds off before I’m even settled on the sidewalk. I spin on my heels to face the next few hours of my life when I hear my alert message ding. Placid blue water fills my screen.
Troy:It’s a beautiful day for a swim.
My smile returns.
Me:Too bad I have to work.
I start to tuck my phone back into my bag, but it dings again before I get the chance.
Troy:You work? Where?
Me:Boots n’ Bangles, and you’re going to make me late if you keep messaging me!
Against my best intentions, I pause before moving, but he doesn’t message back. My gaze catches my reflection on the blackened crystal. For a split second, I see my mother staring up at me before it morphs back into my own face. I take it as a sign of a step in the right direction.
Jolene’s head is bowed over a stack of tee shirts as I enter. She looks up with a smile that quickly twists into a semi-scowl. “Is that couture?” she asks, pronouncing it “co-chure.”
I look down at my dress, then back at her. “It’s Calvin Klein.”